BOWLING GREEN — A Northwood man has been sentenced to 11½ years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in a 15-year-old Woodmore High School student’s death in January as well as unrelated child pornography charges.

Jakub U. Heintzelman, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Wood County Common Pleas Court to third-degree reckless homicide with a gun specification and improper transportation of a firearm in a motor vehicle, Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson said. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses of carrying a concealed weapon and an underage alcohol violation, Mr. Dobson said.

Lake Township police responding to Heintzelman’s apartment in the 3700 block of Lakepointe Drive on Jan. 23 found Symini Moore dead from a gunshot wound.

According to prosecutors, Symini and others were at the apartment when the gun went off while Heintzelman was cleaning or disassembling it. Investigators also learned Heintzelman had been transporting the handgun in his car while it was fully loaded and accessible prior to the shooting, the prosecutor said.

“Foolish, reckless handling of firearms as if they were toys causes this kind of horrific outcome,” Mr. Dobson said. “This was a senseless, completely avoidable event.”

Per an agreement between the defense and prosecutors, Judge Mary “Molly” Mack sentenced Heintzelman to the maximum 7½ years for the homicide and gun charges, including a mandatory three years for the gun specification attached to the homicide count. Improper transportation, a fourth-degree felony, accounted for 18 months.

Heintzelman also pleaded guilty to two second-degree counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, charges based on information found on his cell phone. Miss Moore was not a victim in either of those offenses, which involved two separate children, prosecutors said.

The plea agreement provided concurrent four-year sentences for those two counts, consecutive to the other time. His time in prison could be extended by up to two years if he misbehaves while incarcerated.

Heintzelman was also classified at a Tier II Sex Offender and will be required to register with the sheriff’s office every six months for 25 years once he is released from prison.

BOWLING GREEN — A Troy Township man is facing a sentence of 20 to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to five felonies Wednesday.

Brock Abke, 31, was indicted in November on 13 criminal charges relating to sexual misconduct with children. On Wednesday he pleaded guilty to four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child, and one count of grooming, prosecutors said.

The charges stem from allegations made against him while he was a member of the Wood County Fair Board.

Two of the pandering obscenity charges are second-degree felonies while the other two are fourth-degree felonies. The grooming charge is a fifth-degree felony while the contributing charges are first-degree misdemeanors.

Abke will be sentenced by Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Joel Kuhlman at 1:30 p.m. on July 9.

Law enforcement officers compete against kids during Cops vs. Kids chess tournament at Jones Leadership Academy of Business in Toledo on Wednesday.

The kids won overall against law enforcement 18-9.

Click through the images above to view the full gallery.

The city of Toledo will begin disconnecting residential customers with unpaid water bills starting June 1.

Not everyone who has an unpaid balance will immediately have their water shut off, though.

“Really, as we move towards resuming residential disconnections, it’s our goal to ensure access to water while also maintaining a fiscally sound utility,” said Megan Robson, the city’s chief operating officer.

The city of Toledo has not shut off water for residents with delinquent accounts since 2020 because of a moratorium approved by Toledo City Council during the coronavirus pandemic. Some 312 residential customers had their water shut off before being reconnected as a result of the moratorium, Ms. Robson said.

During the past six years, a majority of those customers have gotten on payment plans or paid their balance in full, but there are still 102 customer accounts that have not made any payments toward the outstanding balance. Those customers will be the first group disconnected June 1.

After the first group of disconnections, the city will continue to communicate with residents who have outstanding balances and disconnect those who do not get on a payment plan or pay in full.

As of April 15, there are 93,341 active residential accounts. Of those, 15,594 are considered delinquent.

When customers receive their bill for water service in the mail, they have about a month to pay. If the bill goes unpaid, the customers receive a notice of nonpayment on their next monthly bill.

If two months go by with no payment, the customers will receive a final notice and eight-day occupant letter. If the bill continues to go unpaid, a door hanger will be posted on the property requiring action in seven days. If no action is taken after those seven days, the water will be disconnected, and a tag will be posted on the property notifying the customer how to be reconnected.

To be reconnected, customers can pay the full balance or begin a payment plan. City crews will work to reconnect the water within 48 hours, Ms. Robson said.

The city of Toledo was owed more than $61 million in unpaid water bills as of March. About $52 million of that amount is outstanding from residential customers.

The city started disconnecting nonpaying commercial and industrial customers last summer. That has resulted in the collection of $15.8 million so far this year.

“We need the revenue to help pay for the needed upgrades to our infrastructure,” said Patekka Bannister, the acting director of public utilities. “Right now, we have a couple of loans to help pay for things like Arlington [Avenue], and we need to be able to have that strong revenue to pay those loans back.”

The city presented its plan to council’s water quality committee on Wednesday and was met with mixed reaction. Committee Chairman Adam Martinez called the plan “compassionate but firm,” but Councilman George Sarantou expressed frustration with how long the process is taking.

“My patience for this program is really wearing thin,” Mr. Sarantou said. “We need to collect this money because we have a utility. We have to provide these services to people, and it’s not fair to the 95.5 percent of people that are paying.”

Council President Vanice Williams, who shared her own experience growing up and having her water disconnected, emphasized the importance of informing families of their options.

“I understand we have a dire need to be collecting our bills where we are right now, but when we have families that don’t have the money to do it, I don’t want to punish them by not at least offering some help,” Ms. Williams said.

In addition to payment plans, the city of Toledo offers a variety of resources to help customers afford their water bill. Those resources, along with signing up for a payment plan, can be found at toledo.oh.gov/residents/water/financial-assistance.

Births

Mercy Health

St. Vincent Medical Center

Gabrielle Urrutia, of Toledo, boy, April 21.

Allyson and Sean McCormick, of Toledo, girl, April 22.

Angela and Lance Okey, of Oregon, girl, April 22.

Alexis Kaltenbach, of Tiffin, boy, April 23.

Aubree Biddwell, of Toledo, girl, April 24.

Sherree and Byron Allen, of Toledo, boy, April 25.

Mar-Quasia Jones, of Toledo, girl, April 25.

Delanie and Garrett Dickey, of Perrysburg, girl, April 30.

Chere Johnson, of Toledo, boy, April 30.

Astrid Ross and Keith Scofield, of Oregon, girl, April 30.

Kimora Briggs, of Oregon, girl, May 1.

Lanaisha Bowen, of Toledo, boy, May 1.

Sierra Buck and Brian Henson, of Toledo, girl, May 1.

Amiyah Houston, of Toledo, girl, May 1.

Brittany Kinsman and Mathew Urban, of Toledo, girl, May 3.

Kelly and Greg Shanks, of Oregon, boy, May 4.

Sariah Jenkins, of Toledo, girl, May 5.

Crystal Hammonds, of Tole- do, boy, May 6.

Chelsea and Adam Kujawski, of Lambertville, boy, May 6.

Natalie and Samuel Speweik, of Waterville, girl, May 6.

Katie Spikes, of Toledo, boy, May 6.

Meghan and Brandon Veler, of Perrysburg, boy, May 6.

Cayla Parra, of Toledo, girl, May 7.

Brittni and Joseph Yingling, of Maumee, girl, May 7.

Nicole Stevenson and Emilio Estrada, of Northwood, girl, May 8.

BriAnn Perry, of Toledo, boy, May 9.

Sherrie and Kenneth Newman, of Toledo, girl, May 11.

Feliciana Garza, of Toledo, boy, May 12.

Leah and Brandon Hudson, of Toledo, girl, May 12.

Mar’Ashia Pettaway, of Tole- do, boy, May 12.

Lisette Vega, of Toledo, boy, May 12.

ProMedica Bay Park Hospital

JaNiyah Stewart, of Rossford, boy, April 24.

Harriett Gable-Tuttle and John Tuttle III, of Toledo, boy, April 26.

Allison and Kolby Helminiak, of Waterville, girl, April 27.

Anna and Kyle Allen, of Toledo, boy, May 8.

Nevaeh Ramirez, of Oregon, boy, May 11.

Lexie and Zachary Bricker, of Millbury, Ohio, girl, May 12.

Danielle and Randall Stone, of Sylvania, boy, May 12.

Marriage licenses

Lucas County

April 21, 2026

Nicholas Wagner and Erin Sparks, both of Ohio.

Delando Thornton and Rebecca Smith, both of Ohio.

Kyle Bopp and Katelyn Fulton, both of Ohio.

James Henry III and Kayla Harris, both of Ohio.

Tanner Boros and Katie Hicks, both of Ohio.

Spencer Sugarbaker and Katherine Simms, both of Michigan.

Mathew Urban and Brittany Kinsman, both of Ohio.

Hayden Koontz and Claudia Mijares, both of Ohio.

Teyana Thomas and Taliah Harris, both of Ohio.

Chandler Dearing and Os- waldo Caridad Reyes, both of Ohio.

April 22, 2026

Benjamin Peterson and Paige Wlodkowski, both of Ohio.

Adam Lorenzen and Kimberly Johnston, both of Ohio.

Chadi Chamoun and Victoria Wasylkowski, both of Ohio.

Tony Rukieh and Leah Cornett, both of Ohio.

Terry Lee and Tangi Fletcher, both of Ohio.

April 27, 2026

Terrence Moon, of Michigan, and Rahni Murphy, of Ohio.

Lance Bucholtz, of Micghian, and Jerrylisa Palacio, of Ohio.

Jonathan Kurtz and Heather Westrick, both of Ohio.

Parker O’Brien and Allyson Scarberry, both of Ohio.

DeAnthony Wade and Melody Jernigan, both of Michigan.

Kenneth Banner and Reza Parkman, both of Ohio.

James Clark and Lola Guillermo, both of Ohio.

Austin Happeny and Cloe Daleska, both of Ohio.

Zachary Farrell, of Ohio, and Alexandria Pete, of Michigan.

Jesse Reisinger and Ellise Nolan, both of Ohio.

James McGinnis and Jadlyn Schaaf, both of Ohio.

Mikenzie Champion and Kaitlin Charnock Eberts, both of Ohio.

Ronnie Sparks and Fayette Lewis, both of Michigan.

Click on icons in the map to find details of reported crimes. For a full list of all reported crimes in Toledo this week, consult the table below.

For months, Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo senior McKenzy Lounsbury has been preparing for an unusual new classmate: a juvenile stingray named Genevieve.

As part of her capstone project, McKenzy helped build the stingray’s tank from scratch and maintain it — a process she said taught her just how demanding caring for the animal can be.

“Many people do not know how hard it is to take care of a stingray,” McKenzy said.

At only a couple months old, Genevieve does what most young animals do.

“She sleeps a lot,” McKenzy said. “She is also the color of the sand at the bottom of her tank. She likes to hide a lot. Sometimes it is like finding Waldo with her because she blends into the sand. She is a lot of work but also a lot of fun.”

Genevieve can live up to 30 years, and she should grow to double her current size, McKenzy said. She feeds her stingray a diet of squid, fish, and shrimp.

“She is a pain to feed, but I am going to start working with her soon once she is more used to her surroundings,” McKenzy said. 

Kurt J. Wicklund, senior director of the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo, called McKenzy one of the superstar students at the school.

“McKenzy just works very hard and does not shy away from things,” Mr. Wicklund said. “She has put a lot of time and thought into Genevieve.”

McKenzy, her brother, London Redder, 15, and sister, Madison Lounsbury, 13, lost their mother, Linda, in 2022. The siblings are living with their aunt Sandy Majo.

The senior has a 4.2 grade point average and will graduate as the school’s salutatorian. She will attend Ohio State University in the fall on a full scholarship. McKenzy said she will study wildlife sciences and conservation.

She was selected for a highly competitive paid STEM internship through Bowling Green State University and the University of Cincinnati’s Biology Meets Engineering Fellowship. She’s also raising a 4-H goat named Pretzel.

Mr. Wicklund said the school partnered with the University of Cincinnati on the internship project beginning two years ago.

“One of the benefits tied to the grant funding of the program is the opportunity for up to six of our students to earn paid STEM internships while conducting research at either Bowling Green State University or the Toledo Zoo,” he said. “While the selection process is competitive, we had no doubt that McKenzy would be chosen. This internship aligns directly with her passion for marine biology and reflects the tremendous amount of time, effort, and curiosity she has invested into learning as much as possible about marine life and conservation.”

McKenzy plans to spend quality time with her stingray after graduation.

“I will be taking care of her over the summer,” McKenzy said. “I am hoping to have her target-trained before I leave so she won’t run away from touch. I will be using a colored ball on a stick to get her used to coming close to people.”

As McKenzy prepares to leave for college, she is also preparing to hand off responsibility for Genevieve to her younger brother and sister — a transition that has become part of the project itself.

“London will take over for me with her,” McKenzy said. “When Madison comes here, she will also help take care of Genevieve. I know they will do a good job. She is in good hands.”

London, who is interested in landscaping, said he believes it will be hard taking care of the stingray but that it is worth it.

“I am more into doing things outside with my hands,” her brother said. “I will definitely do my best job with Genevieve, though. McKenzy worked so hard to take care of her, and I will continue that.”

Madison said she is looking forward to being in the school so she can work with small animals. She wants to become a small animal veterinarian when she’s older.

“I like working with small animals, so I am looking forward to working with the rats, snakes, and lizards,” Madison said. “I think Genevieve will be totally fine to work with as well. I promised McKenzy that I would take care of her.”

Mr. Wicklund said he is not at all surprised that McKenzy stepped up and developed a plan for the stingray’s care when she is gone.

“It speaks to the caliber of student she is,” Mr. Wicklund said. “She’s highly motivated, academically driven, and willing to pursue opportunities beyond the traditional classroom experience. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and excited to see where this experience takes her. I am sure she will be visiting us every time she is in town as well.”

The city of Oregon wants to renegotiate its agreement with the Oregon Economic Development Foundation, the city’s main economic development arm, to safeguard the city’s interests.

The foundation receives $100,000 annually from Oregon as part of its operating budget. Funding is also provided by dues-paying members from the business community.

“Right now, we want to put in some safeguards for city assets that did not exist in previous agreements,” Mayor Steven Salander said.

“There’s been some trust issues between the city and OEDF. We’re just trying to have some protections to be able to sell or purchase land,” he said. “When we transfer land to OEDF, it’s in their name. We have to have some protections in there so they don’t sell city land without our approval.”

The foundation markets city land for commercial and industrial development. When the land is purchased, the proceeds from the sale of the property go back to the city, minus expenses incurred, Mr. Salander said.

“There have been lots of agreements for land that’s been transferred to them over the years that have not been consistent,” he said. “Some of them had callback clauses where land that is not sold or developed within three years would go back to the city. We’ve not had that in a while, so they’ve had complete control of city property.”

There were also questions on the transactions themselves and the lack of paperwork in some instances, he said.

“We’re trying to have more of a paper trail, basically. There were a lot of verbal agreements between people and a breakdown in communications. We want it to be more transparent, and give the city more ability to protect property that was purchased with public funds,” said Mr. Salander.

“We want to clean up everything and make agreements more consistent, " he added.

Officials from the city and the foundation recently met to discuss a draft agreement, but nothing has been settled, Mr. Salander said. 

“The foundation is pushing back on the changes we’re asking for,” he said.

Last year, the city held up its $100,000 payment until financial issues with the foundation were resolved. In particular, the city was frustrated after requests for transaction logs from the foundation on real estate purchases had gone unanswered for months. The foundation finally submitted them to the city.

Whenever land or money is transferred to the foundation, it is accompanied by a city ordinance that gives direction on what can be done with it, said Paul Roman, acting city administrator. 

“If the property isn’t sold, or things don’t get purchased, what happens with that revenue or that property? Is the contract too general? Should it be more specific? We just want to make sure our properties are more protected, and that the contract takes care of the public interest,” Mr. Roman said.

There are also discussions on the amount the city contributes annually to the foundation, which has grown considerably over the years.

Nick Roman, Oregon’s finance director, said the city’s contribution climbed from $24,000 in the foundation’s first year in 1993, to $44,000 in 1994, $51,000 in 2004, $62,000 in 2005, $70,000 in 2009, to $100,000 in 2023.

Councilman Beth Ackerman wants to cut back or even eliminate the contribution altogether.

At the start of the foundation, the city only matched the amount of the membership fees, Mrs. Ackerman said.

“City funds were supposed to just get them off the ground, and their dues-paying members would eventually cover that,” she said. “It sounds like they’re doing great with memberships, so it should be self-sustaining.”

Paul Roman said funding has grown due to inflation, the cost of insurance, taxes, and maintenance.

“Then there’s the cost of the director. It’s a combination of all those things,” he said.

“If the membership grows, maybe there’s less of a need for city money,” he added.

He is opposed to significantly reducing or eliminating city funds.

“There clearly has to be money from the city going into the foundation, which is still managing city land, and there’s a lot of work that’s being done for Oregon,” he said.

Craig Albers, president of the foundation’s executive board, did not return messages seeking comment.

Mercy Health doctors are offering a new prescription to reduce stress, boost mood, protect against depression, and improve sleep: nature.

Through a new partnership with Metroparks Toledo, Mercy Health physicians can now prescribe time in nature as “part of a broader approach to mental health.”

“NatureRx offers a low-cost, non-stigmatizing way for people to support their mental health regardless of income or insurance status,” said Matt Sapara, Mercy’s vice president of business development. 

“This program helps translate research into action by giving patients simple, practical ways to engage with nature through the Metroparks,” he continued.

The brochure for the program cites studies that show 20 to 30 minutes outside can reduce cortisol levels, which are responsible for regulating stress and anxiety. It can also increase serotonin, a chemical associated with mood; boost mental clarity, and regulate the circadian rhythm that controls the sleep cycle.

Dave Zenk, executive director of the Metroparks, said it will integrate NatureRx into its programming with walks with doctors and mindfulness activities.

“It costs nothing to take a walk on a trail but time,” Mr. Zenk said. “I can’t promise that the solution to our health challenges is as simple as a walk in the park, but as we’ve learned, spending time outdoors is certainly part of a healthy lifestyle.”

Prescriptions come with a card with checkboxes for activities like stretching, walking, running, biking, and paddling, as well as frequency and duration. For those who need a little motivation, the program recommends setting small goals that can be exceeded, parking farther away, scheduling your nature outing, or bringing a friend.

Mercy Health Toledo’s president, Bob Baxter, said the partnership is part of a broader community-health approach in the area.

“Mental health challenges continue to grow across our community, and we know people need support that is accessible, proactive and woven into everyday life,” Mr. Baxter said in a statement. “NatureRx takes our partnership with Metroparks Toledo to the next level by recognizing nature as a powerful tool for reducing stress, anxiety and social isolation while supporting overall wellbeing.”

Metroparks Toledo will celebrate the new program with Mercy Health during its annual Outdoor Discovery Day on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Side Cut Metropark’s Silver Lake area.

The event allows participants to sample outdoor activities offered by the Metroparks, including kayaking, tree climbing, archery, bicycling, and eco-therapy. Mercy Health physicians will also offer on-site health screenings and mammograms.

The Springfield Board of Education will take some time to decide if it will place a levy on the Nov. 3 ballot.

During the Wednesday night board meeting, Springfield Superintendent Matt Geha said the 3.9-mill levy loss was by “around 900 votes.”

“We did have 2,000 votes for the levy, so that was good to see,” Mr. Geha said. “Obviously we would have liked to have had it end differently. We will have to explore if we have a new effort in the fall.”

Mr. Geha told the board that he has been asked countless times what would be cut if the levy did not pass.

“We had just made cuts so there really was not anything at the time,” he said. “If we put a levy on the November ballot we will have to prepare what cuts we will have to make if the levy fails.”

Ryan Lockwood, district treasurer, said many levies failed including neighboring Evergreen schools, which lost its 0.25 percent renewal income tax levy.

“There is this push to get rid of property taxes and I am sure that played into it,” Mr. Lockwood said. “It is probably also why there were so many levies on the ballot to begin with. We will look at a new levy. The deadline to get on the ballot is the end of July. I know we will continue to have discussions leading up to it.”

Mr. Geha said he wanted to thank those who support the schools.

“I am not talking about just those that supported us on the ballot,” the superintendent said. “It is a tough time of year. The cost of gas and other things is up. We know the levy would be adding more dollars to your property tax. We do not make light of that. This was our first new tax in 10 years. We will see where we go from here. We will keep operating, surviving, and moving the district forward.”

Sherri Koback, school board president, said the board will be taking time to discuss its options.

“We have a lot to go over to figure out what kind of levy we can put on the ballot,” Mrs. Koback said. “We were not the only ones who lost on the ballot. It just sure would be nice if the state would change its ways.”

In other board action

The school board Wednesday accepted the resignation of Andrew Screptock, Springfield High School assistant principal and athletic director.

Mr. Screptock has been the athletic director for seven years.

“Prior to that, he was a great history teacher,” Mr. Geha said. “He is an OSU graduate and before that he was in the top 10 of his Springfield class of 2005.”

Mr. Geha added that Mr. Screptock cared about the arts and supported the band and National Honor Society.

“He just really has cared about the students,” he said. “He cared about the classroom as well as the sports.”

Mr. Screptock’s resignation is effective June 12.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Medicaid will implement a six-month moratorium on the enrollment of new home health care and hospice businesses, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday.

The department will also assess existing providers to remove those at high risk for having committed fraud, the governor said. 

The moratorium is one of several fraud-prevention initiatives being implemented by the DeWine administration amid allegations of Medicaid fraud published in the Daily Wire, a right-wing media outlet. 

Mr. DeWine said Ohio was the first state in the country to implement electronic visit verification in home health care in 2018, calling the Buckeye State a national leader in Medicaid fraud prevention.

“Today, we are ready to begin several new initiatives long in development that will enhance this nation-leading work and further protect taxpayer funds from those trying to defraud the state,” the governor said. “I thank the Trump Administration for their partnership and collaboration that is allowing us to proceed with these reforms much faster than previously possible.”

In addition to the moratorium, Ohio Medicaid will immediately remove and suspend payments to providers whose billing practices show red flags indicating a high probability of fraud, according to the governor’s office.

Mr. DeWine is planning to issue an executive order to implement emergency rules requiring more frequent revalidation of providers who have been identified as “higher risk” for committing fraud.

Ohio Medicaid will also require the use of GPS for all providers using electronic visit verification and will begin mandating electronic visit verification for live-in caregivers. 

Legislative leaders respond

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R., Lima) and Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R., Napoleon) both expressed frustration with the DeWine administration’s reluctance to implement Medicaid fraud prevention controls passed by the legislature over the years.

“In 2019, the General Assembly passed as part of its budget the requirement that the state auditor audit Medicaid and its various agencies ... things that would look at what’s in these reports. Gov. DeWine vetoed that,” Mr. Huffman said. 

He said the budget passed in 2021 provided the Ohio Department of Medicaid funding to use technology to track spending and verify who should and shouldn’t be on the Medicaid rolls. 

“It didn’t happen,” Mr. Huffman said, noting he met with former Ohio Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran about it. “They just didn’t do it, and they wouldn’t do it.” 

In 2023, the governor vetoed a budget provision that would have required performance audits be conducted on the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on these issues, Mr. Huffman said.

Similar provisions were not vetoed in the most recent budget that passed in 2025, Mr. Huffman said.

“We are now here trying to pick up the pieces of what I would say was — at best — patently negligent execution of the laws of the state of Ohio by the director of the Department of Medicaid,” he said of Ms. Corcoran, who left her position in the fall.

Mr. McColley said he wished the DeWine administration would have acted more quickly.

“A lot of this is a little bit late, quite frankly,” he said, joining Mr. Huffman in pointing to the budget provisions that have been vetoed over the years.

“Throughout the entire course of time, we’ve received tremendous resistance from the Department of Medicaid when the legislature has tried to step in and offer its own oversight over the Department of Medicaid,” Mr. McColley said, also criticizing Ms. Corcoran. “It’s incredibly frustrating to say the least.”

Mr. Huffman said lawmakers are working on further legislation to address the issue, and he would like to pass something before July. 

Ms. Corcoran could not be reached for comment. 

Agencies on aging make recommendations

Ohio’s 12 area agencies on aging are recommending the DeWine administration increase the amount of time that a home health care company must be in business in order to be a Medicaid provider, said Justin Moor, president and CEO of the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio.

Currently, a home health care provider only has to be in business for three months to qualify, Mr. Moor said.

“That [should] be extended to be three years so that organizations are more well-established before being able to become a PASSPORT provider,” he said.

PASSPORT is the name of the Medicaid home health care waiver program in Ohio. 

Several years ago, Mr. Moor said, the length of time was shortened to three months in order to increase the number of home health care providers when it was difficult to find workers in the industry.

“The pendulum has swung from not enough capacity to now maybe we need to be more restrictive on the type of organizations that are brought on,” he said. 

Mr. Moor said he is supportive of the actions being taken by the DeWine administration.

“The initiatives that the governor has announced to address Medicaid fraud prevention are reasonable and smart steps to be taken,” he said. 

Home health care allows aging individuals to remain at home while also costing Medicaid a fraction of the money that would otherwise be spent on nursing home care, Mr. Moor said.

According to the governor’s office, Ohio saved more than $600 million in 2024 in taxpayer dollars by utilizing home health care services instead of nursing home care.

Gubernatorial candidates weigh in

“The endless corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse that has gone on for decades in our statehouse will come to an end when I’m governor,” said Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor in Ohio. 

“These allegations require a full investigation, and unfortunately Vivek Ramaswamy will continue the same failed policies that have taken us backward for years,” Dr. Acton continued. “It’s time for a change.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said Ohio spends more than $40 billion on Medicaid every year.

“There are undoubtedly a large number of dollars going to people who shouldn’t be getting it,” Mr. Ramaswamy said.

“That’s unfair, and it’s a moral issue,” he continued. “A top priority for my administration will be to recover those savings and return it to law-abiding Ohioans.”

One of two men charged with the Nov. 2 shooting death of a South Toledo restaurant’s popular server pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to murder and multiple felonious assault counts.

Marvin Pettaway, 19, entered the pleas in Lucas County Common Pleas Court in exchange for dismissal of other charges in his indictment, including aggravated murder and attempted murder, in the case.

Jasmine Queen, 19, was killed and three other people were wounded when Pettaway and an alleged accomplice opened fire on patrons in the parking lot of an after-hours club in a strip center on Reynolds Road just south of Hill Avenue.

Miss Queen had worked at Doc Watson’s, a popular local restaurant in a strip center in the southeast corner of Byrne Road and Glendale Avenue, since she was 14, initially as a hostess. Her death prompted the restaurant’s owner to set up a memorial to her and close the restaurant for several days.

Pettaway faces a statutory term of life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years for the murder count, plus three years for an attached firearms specification, when Judge Lindsay Navarre sentences him June 9.

Judge Navarre may also sentence him to up to eight years apiece for each of the three second-degree felonious assault convictions, although that time may be consecutive or concurrent.

An aggravated murder conviction would have exposed him to life in prison without parole eligibility, or with parole eligibility after 20, 25, or 30 years.

Also to be dismissed at sentencing are several counts of attempted murder relating to the three other shooting victims, five counts of felonious assault for other people who weren’t hit, firing on or near prohibited premises, and having weapons while under disability.

Also to be dropped is a separate charge of receiving stolen property against Pettaway, who authorities said was in a stolen car when he was arrested.

Matching charges remain pending against co-defendant Marshaun Purley, 18, of the 2400 block of Hidden Brook Drive. Purley was a fugitive until his Dec. 31 arrest in East Toledo by members of a violent-fugitive task force.

Purley appeared before Judge Navarre after Pettaway for what was scheduled as a final pretrial hearing before a trial scheduled for June 8.

At the defense’s request and with the prosecution’s consent, Judge Navarre continued the case for another pretrial hearing May 20. Angela Zavac, the assistant Lucas County prosecutor handling the case, said a plea offer to Purley would be withdrawn that day if he does not accept it by then.

Also charged in the case is Brooklyn Cobian, 20, of the 4700 block of South Crestridge Road in Sylvania Township, who was indicted for a single third-degree count of obstructing justice. She is next scheduled for a pretrial conference June 9.

Representing 15 countries from around the globe, 26 people became new American citizens Wednesday during a naturalization ceremony at Rossford High School.

“I came here when I was 17 as an exchange student in high school,” said Giacomo Benvegnu who is originally from Padua, Italy.

Mr. Benvegnu said he got a green card in 2016 and applied for citizenship in November. He and his wife, Olivia Wesley, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this year.

“I’m proud of him,” she said. 

The Perrysburg couple said the citizenship test was something they practiced and practiced. 

“The test was a good refresher,” Ms. Wesley said. “We made it fun.” 

Miquette McMahon Denie is a registered nurse, an author, and the founder of teachhaiti.org, an education nonprofit organization based in Port au Prince, Haiti.

“I’m originally from Haiti where there is so much instability,” she said. “To have had the opportunity” to become an American is something she said she is grateful for. “The American dream is achievable to all with work and determination.”

She and her husband, Art McMahon, met in Haiti and now live in Vermilion, Ohio. 

“It has been a long process, but one that is worth it,” Mr. McMahon said. 

The new citizens were sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary who told them to embrace the responsibility of being an American which includes being informed and to be “cheerleaders of freedom in times of crisis.”

There was a time when “people read The Federalist Papers,” he said. “Today, we have 24-hour cable news, then social media, then podcasts, now AI. We are drowning in information, sometimes misinformation.” 

It’s the duty of every American to learn American history, he said.

The 1883 poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus — the words inscribed on the plaque at the Statue of Liberty — was read by Rossford student Gabriel Kelsey. Judge Zouhary used that as an opening to give everyone in the auditorium a pop quiz, “since we’re in a school.”

What’s on Lady Liberty’s head? A crown. How many points are on that crown? Seven, for the seven continents and the seven seas people travel to become Americans. What’s at her feet? Broken shackles representing freedom from oppression. What’s in her hands? A torch for enlightenment and knowledge and a tablet bearing July 4, 1776.

“You, along with Lady Liberty are keepers of the flame,” the judge said. 

He told the new Americans they would receive three gifts: a copy of the U.S. Constitution, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson which is a deep dive into an opening line of the country’s freedom document: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

“You may feel we are embroiled in increasingly polarized debates about politics,” Judge Zouhary said. “But look at the heart of the Declaration of Independence. ... Democracy depends on informed citizens.”

Two speakers, Rossford Mayor Neil A. Mackinnon III and Rossford Fire Chief Richard Syroka, encouraged the new citizens to become active community members.

“Citizenship is more than a legal status,” Chief Syroka said. “It’s a commitment to one another.”

He likened being an American citizen to the operation of a fire station. “We speak many languages, come from many backgrounds, yet, when the fire alarm sounds, we are one,” he said.

Vote, volunteer, and join neighborhood groups, he told them. “Your voice matters. Your ideas matter.”

The countries of origin for the 26 new Americans include Canada, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, India, Italy, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. 

“This is the greatest country in the world,” Ms. McMahon Denie said. “A country of freedom and opportunity.”

COLUMBUS — The Energy Committee chairman in each chamber of the Ohio General Assembly will co-lead a new Joint Data Center Committee, the state lawmakers announced Wednesday

State Rep. Adam Holmes (R., Nashport) and state Sen. Brian Chavez (R., Marietta) will serve on the committee as co-chairmen along with three additional members each from the Ohio House and Ohio Senate. 

“We recognize the concerns that have arisen in some citizens about the impact of data centers on our local communities,” Mr. Holmes said, pointing to reports of exorbitant water use, negative effects on land and wildlife, increased energy costs, and excessive sound, light, and electromagnetic emissions. 

“The mission of this committee is to ensure that Ohio citizens have accurate, relevant, and usable information concerning the economic, environmental, and security impacts of Ohio data center development,” Mr. Holmes said. 

In March, the Ohio House passed legislation that would create the Ohio Data Center Study Commission. House Bill 646, sponsored by state Reps. Gary Click (R., Vickery) and Kellie Deeter (R., Norwalk), has been referred to the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Technology Committee.

Mr. Click said the newly created Joint Data Center Committee would likely make the commission he proposed in H.B. 646 moot.

“We began with an open concept anticipating input from our colleagues in both chambers. This is the culmination of those efforts,” Mr. Click said. “I look forward to a final product that will provide a reasoned and rational response to the questions Ohioans are posing.”

Mr. Chavez and Mr. Holmes said this legislative committee can be set up much more quickly than the commission in H.B. 646. 

“There’s a lot of decision-making by citizens this year, so we want to get this information out as quickly as possible,” Mr. Holmes said. 

In addition to Mr. Chavez, committee members from the Ohio Senate will include Sens. Bill Reineke (R., Tiffin), Shane Wilkin (R., Hillsboro), and Willis Blackshear (D., Dayton). Joining Mr. Holmes from the Ohio House will be Reps. Thad Claggett (R., Newark), Heidi Workman (R., Rootstown), and Chris Glassburn (D., North Olmstead). 

State Sen. Michele Reynolds (R., Canal Winchester), state Sen. Kent Smith (D., Euclid), Mr. Click, and Ms. Deeter are also expected to participate in the committee process, Mr. Chavez said. 

“It means a lot to them and their community to make sure that we get the facts of the situation out where we can,” Mr. Chavez said.

Mr. Chavez and Mr. Holmes said they have been in touch with subject matter experts, and they expect representatives from tech companies such as Meta and Google to testify. State agencies such as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel are also expected to speak to the committee.

The committee will also consider testimony from individuals and organizations both for and against the development of data centers, Mr. Holmes said. 

Mr. Chavez said the committee plans to hold its first two meetings on May 27 and 28.

“Then we’d like to have at least one meeting a week, where possible, after that,” he said. “We’re going to be aggressive on our timeline.”

Mr. Chavez said lawmakers will distribute a summary of the committee’s findings to local governments across the state in order to help them make decisions on data center siting. 

Specifically, Mr. Chavez said the committee will seek to determine data center energy costs and effects on ratepayers; study the state and local economics of data center development; determine the environmental effects of the facilities; and discuss public safety considerations. 

Mr. Holmes said it is possible the committee process could lead to action at the state level on data centers, but he emphasized the importance of local control on the issue.

The Joint Data Center Committee will meet as supporters of a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new large data centers collect signatures to place the measure on ballot. However, state policy experts have said the campaign is unlikely to collect 413,487 valid signatures by July 1 to make the November ballot.

Anyone interested in a daylong Family Camp that would serve families with relatives who have special needs is invited to attend an upcoming planning session.

Little Flower Catholic Parish is exploring the possibility of holding such a program in summer of 2027.

Feedback and questions can be heard at 6:30 p.m. May 20 on the church campus, 5522 Dorr St.

Contact Peggy Delcher at 614-216-2063 with questions.

BOWLING GREEN — Two labor-leader brothers face misdemeanor charges following a dispute last month at the Meta data center construction site in Wood County that for one of them turned physical.

According to complaints the Wood County Sheriff’s Office filed April 18 in Bowling Green Municipal Court, Shaun Enright, 47, of the 3700 block of Beechway Boulevard in Toledo, challenged two men to a fight during the conflict, while Thomas Enright, 49, of the 5900 block of Shawnee Avenue in Lake Township, shoved another man.

Thomas Enright, president of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8, based in Rossford, is charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault. Shaun Enright, Local 8’s business agent and also executive secretary and business manager for the Northwest Ohio Building Trades Council, is charged with disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor.

Both had been scheduled for arraignment Wednesday, but that proceeding was vacated after Jane Roman, a Toledo lawyer, entered appearances April 29 on their behalf. They now are scheduled to appear June 3 for a pretrial conference.

Details about the circumstances leading up to the conflict were not included in the sheriff’s deputy’s complaints.

Marc Hudson, the director of construction operations for JE Dunn Construction, the Dallas-based contractor building the data center for Meta, confirmed Wednesday morning that an incident had occurred but said he couldn’t discuss details of the ongoing investigation.

The deputy’s complaint identified Jacob Cobb and Devin Moss as the people with whom Shaun Enright engaged in a verbal argument.

“Shaun then threatened to fight both men,” according to the filing. “Shaun threw his hard hat down and approached the men. Both men were disturbed and felt threatened by Shaun’s behavior.”

Thomas Enright, meanwhile, pushed a man identified as Samuel Henderson with both hands “hard enough to cause Samuel to stumble back several feet,” the deputy wrote.

Ms. Roman did not respond to a request Wednesday for comment.

Shaun Enright’s disorderly conduct charge is punishable by a fine of $155 if convicted, while Thomas Enright faces a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of assault.

The East Toledo Family Center will preach mental health and wellness during its Family Wellness Night on May 20.

With the theme of Linking the Gap Between the Heart and Mind, the event will offer education and discussion on mental health as well as community resources available to residents.

It runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Glass City Enrichment Center, 815 Front St.

For more information, call 419-691-1429 or email hollyk@etfc.org.

TARTA has added four more games to its Muddy Shuttle to help get fans to Fifth Third Field to cheer on the Toledo Mud Hens.

Passengers will be able to hop on at five area park-and-ride locations and head straight to the game for a $3 round trip on May 22 and 23 against the Indianapolis Indians and May 29 and 30 against the Columbus Clippers.

All four games start at 7:05 p.m. Shuttles will depart from the following locations 60 minutes prior to the first pitch:

● Miracle Mile Shopping Center, 1727 W. Laskey Rd.

● Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee.

● Starr Elementary School, 3230 Starr Ave., Oregon.

● Kroger, 8730 Waterville Swanton Rd., Waterville.

A shuttle will also depart from the Franciscan Center, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, 90 minutes before first pitch.

Passengers can pay on board with cash, by using the TARTA Card, or by downloading the EZFare app. For more information, visit tarta.com/muddy.

The Toledo Police Department wants to get out of the towing business by outsourcing management of its impound lot.

The department is asking Toledo City Council to allow the city to enter into a five-year agreement with Illinois-based Vehicle Management Solutions LLC to manage the Toledo Police Impound Lot.

The agreement includes the option to renew for an additional five years. Services include receiving towed vehicles, storage at secured facilities, processing release to vehicle owners, and disposal of unclaimed vehicles.

Costs are expected not to exceed $2,471,617.35 from the municipal tow lot fund annually.

Outsourcing details

Toledo’s impound lot is currently managed by seven TPD officers and one sergeant, according to Assistant Police Chief Kevin Braun. By outsourcing operations, those officers can be deployed to other areas of the department.

“Our hope is that if and when this happens, that we can work with the patrol officers’ union to kind of find a better use for those officers, which we hope will translate into seven more officers out on the street taking calls for service,” Chief Braun told council members last week.

Currently, towed vehicles are taken to the impound lot on Dura Avenue off North Detroit Avenue. The police department also handles local auctions or takes vehicles to the scrapyard. Vehicle Management Solutions would take over auctions, putting vehicles on a national platform online.

“The goal and the hope is the average sale price of the vehicle that we get now through auction and through scrap will increase because there is going to be a larger buyer pool for those vehicles,” Chief Braun said.

Vehicle Management Solutions operates in Chicago, San Antonio, Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, and El Paso. If Toledo contracts with the company, it would be the first Ohio client for impound operations.

TPD chose Vehicle Management Solutions because the company can provide management services and is familiar with the software that the department already utilizes, said Toledo Lt. Brianne Holmes.

Chief Braun added that, through the department’s research, other cities have been pleased with the company’s service.

However, Vehicle Management Solutions has been tied to several legal battles in other states.

The company itself has never been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice, but several cities that have contracted with it have faced lawsuits for allegedly violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which provides federal protections for those called to active duty.

Legal challenges

In September, 2020, San Antonio reached an agreement with the Justice Department to resolve allegations that the city violated the act by auctioning off and disposing of cars that were owned by service members without first obtaining court orders.

An investigation launched by the Department of Justice found that between 2011 and 2019, the city auctioned at least 227 vehicles registered to service members without obtaining the required court orders. San Antonio contracted with Vehicle Management Solutions, previously known as United Road Towing Inc., in 2011, according to court documents.

The city was required to pay $47,000 to compensate two service members, an additional $62,029 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury Department, and to establish a $150,000 settlement fund to compensate other service members.

Four years later, the Department of Justice announced it reached a settlement with the city of El Paso to resolve similar allegations. The complaint alleges that the city and its contractors auctioned or disposed of more than 170 vehicles owned by service members without first obtaining court orders allowing them to do so.

The city was required to develop new policies and procedures to ensure that contractors who are responsible for auctioning or disposing impounded vehicles comply with the act in the future. El Paso was also responsible for paying a $20,000 civil penalty.

United Road Towing, which El Paso contracted with in 2019, was required to establish a $57,395 settlement fund to compensate service members, pay a $24,980 civil penalty, provide training to its employees, adopt policies and procedures to investigate the military status of a registered owner prior to auctioning a vehicle, and obtain a court order prior to auctioning a vehicle owned by a protected service member. 

United Road Towing rebranded into Vehicle Management Solutions in 2023.

New processes

Vehicle Management Solutions’ Chief Operation Officer Frank Mecklenburg said the company does not sell vehicles until they are legally ready to be sold, provides proper notification to the vehicle’s owner, and complies with state law.

In response to questions last week about the San Antonio case from Council President Vanice Williams, Mr. Mecklenburg said the company has since partnered with the Justice Department to improve the process of disposing impounded vehicles.

“Through this, I think the DOJ has recognized, and what we have recognized, is that there are gaps in that process,” Mr. Mecklenburg said. “The software service we have now absolutely prevents that.”

Every towing company that has an auction is supposed to run the vehicle through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act database, Mr. Mecklenburg said.

“Nobody does because it is virtually impossible,” he said. “You have to have a birth date and you have to have a Social Security number. Those are two things we typically do not have, so we’re working with the Department of Justice to try to figure out how do we bridge that gap nationally.”

Councilman John Hobbs III asked that the item receive a first reading during Tuesday’s council meeting.

After the meeting, Mr. Hobbs, chairman of council’s public safety committee, said he wanted to make sure other members had time to ask questions and get answers before voting. He is hosting a public safety committee meeting May 21 at 4 p.m. in council chambers where the item will be discussed further.

Despite some of the legal challenges other cities have faced, Mr. Hobbs said he is not concerned with the company’s management.

“If you look at all the cities that they are operating in, they are operating in some major cities with a lot more than what we have in Toledo,” Mr. Hobbs said. “They seem to be doing a great job in other places.”

Toledo Public Schools district leaders have announced a series of essential parent meetings to discuss the impact of the district’s Transformation 2.0 plan.

The meetings start Monday and are for families with students currently attending schools slated for closure at the end of this year, as well as any parents seeking information regarding educational options for their children.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the specific schools their students are assigned to attend this fall, meet with administrators and staff from those receiving schools, and finalize all necessary registration and enrollment documentation for the 2026-27 school year.

All meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the following high schools: Monday at Bowsher, Tuesday at Scott, Wednesday at Waite, and Thursday at both Woodward and Start.

For a list of which schools will be discussed at each meeting, additional boundary information, and more details about the plan, visit tps.org.